. . . blush . . . tá náire orm, leoga, a chairde!

Dear Aidan (and my dear fellow mandolinquents),

I'm totally gobsmacked. Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. This is one of those (very few) times that I really don't know what to say . . .

I couldn't have even dreamed of playing the mandolin (or scribblin' any tunes, for that matter) without the caring advice, patience and encouragement of all you Mudcatters, and my special international trio of 'Mandolin Angels' -- Wesley S, Aidan, and Mooh. Wesley put his own mandolin in my hands and helped me overcome my fear of playing in public (well, in front of him, anyway), Aidan shook the cobwebs from the notes in my head with his wonderful music, and Mooh is the absolute best long-distance mandolin teacher in the world.

With 'angels' like these, who could go to the devil with a straight face?

Again, thank you so much for your kindness. And Aidan, you're full of surprises, aren't ya!?!

All the best, Áine